Manawatu Standard
Trainer wants compensation
A Manawatū greyhound trainer who runs a multimillion-dollar operation wants to be compensated when the industry is shut down. Brendon Cole and his family run Bigtime Racing Kennels just outside Palmerston North. Before the Government announced in...
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Builder uses ‘nuclear’ option with Powerco
A Palmerston North building company has taken up an offer to talk to Powerco staff about customer experience, after it had to wait six months for a new power connection quote. On September 30, 2025, Homebuild Homes director Victoria Jakobs put in a...
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Land waste disposal out
Discharging some of Palmerston North’s treated wastewater to land has been wiped from the city council’s list of options for its Nature Calls project. The council on Wednesday discarded the last remaining option that included any land discharge,...
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Iwi housing input rejected
The Government has approved a district plan change to allow a large new housing development in Levin, but aspects relating to iwi involvement have been rejected. The Horowhenua District Council proposed to rezone 22 hectares of land on the northwest...
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Wedge the big cheese in burgeoning suburb
Forsaking the foot traffic and traditions of farmers’ markets in favour of a fledging suburb, a Feilding fromagerie is betting on its own neighbourhood. Alana Hiddink and Chris Perry opened Wedge.eatery in a modified shipping container yesterday, a...
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Borer scare at Te Manawa
The discovery of borer chewing holes in an old wooden high chair has triggered a comprehensive stocktake of 300,000 taonga held at Te Manawa. The museum’s lead collections manager Talei Langley said none of the art collection nor items on public...
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Critical failings found in mental health case probe
Health NZ is pushing ahead with improvements to its Whanganui mental health services after finding the care of an insane man who killed his mother while on a community treatment order lacked clinical oversight and whānau engagement. Leslie Raymond...
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Man’s chance to save kidney gone
Manawatū man Anthony Olsen is distraught that he will likely lose a kidney to cancer after five years of reporting errors and delays. Feeling sore and stressed, he and wife Donna are raging against MidCentral health providers for what they see as...
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Rural wellbeing gets boost
Making sure the mind and body is in good health can be just as important as getting a farm vehicle or tool checked. Amid the hundreds of exhibitors at the Central Districts Field Days, which started at Manfeild yesterday, a Government boost was...
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Injury triggers innovation
A docking invention born out of an injury could help reduce repetitive strain injuries on the farm. Feilding man Ben Nitschke’s invention is the electronic docking iron, or EDI – a new take on the traditional tool used to remove lambs’ tails to...
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Commitment, camaraderie in stride
Friends Freja Kirk, left, and Paige Ramson, reach the finish line in tandem at the Weet-Bix TRYathlon at Ongley Park yesterday. Hundreds of children took part in the annual event, most finishing with a sweaty smile.
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Dibble Studio forging out its own path
A well-known name in the art world is continuing but a new era is under way at Dibble Studio. Dibble Studio is about to launch the exhibition Rewilding at the James Blackie gallery in Wellington, starting on March 28. The studio is a team of people...
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Ostriches captivate couple
A feathery new addition to a roadside coffee spot in Himatangi is proving to be a captivating experience for those stopping in for their daily fix, but its owners say breeding the world’s largest bird has proven more difficult than...
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$2m repair bill for stormdamaged roads
Two councils are grappling with how to cover huge bills for damage caused by February’s storm. The wider region was hit by strong wind and rain in February, causing havoc and knocking trees over in many areas, including Rangitīkei and Horowhenua. A...
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An ‘unmitigated disaster’
Racing at Awapuni Racecourse won’t be back on the grass turf until the end of 2027, but the organisation that runs the venue is confident it can survive. The Palmerston North racecourse closed its grass track in October 2023 for a 19-month renovation...
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NZ Post compensation sought
A Palmerston North dairy owner wants compensation from NZ Post for the removal of her mail service, as she believes she will be out of pocket. Heena Patel runs Albert Street Dairy in Hokowhitu and has an NZ Post service counter, allowing people to...
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New principal returns home
A refreshed energy and drive is sweeping through Hato Pāora College with a new principal. Kahurangi Falaoa, who is an old boy of the Catholic Māori boys’ boarding school near Cheltenham, started as tumuaki this term. He takes over the role from Nathan...
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Final failure
New Zealand’s latest quest to land a men’s white-ball World Cup crown fell flat in Ahmedabad. The Black Caps were pummeled by 96 runs by India in the 2026 T20 final yesterday. The home side put on 92 without loss in the six-over power play after...
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53km run in name of resilience
Hundreds of children supported Sam Howard as he ran for six hours straight to raise funds for the Cancer Society. The father and former nurse was running around a track at Ashhurst School on Friday to launch the school’s 2026 Relay for Life...
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Liquidated Lion Academy sells property to pay down outstanding debts
A now insolvent corporate retreat company still owes thousands of dollars to creditors including ANZ, and liquidators are unable to say when the liquidation process will wind up. The Lion Academy was put into liquidation by the High Court at...
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Neighbour always ready to help
Living next door to one of Palmerston North’s crash black spots, Kate and Ben Millar keep a torch, a towel, an emergency kit and hi-vis vests handy at the back door. Every four to six weeks they hear a crash at the intersection of Longburn-Rongotea Rd...
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Fears for Turitea School traffic
“We don’t want a fatality to be the thing that affects change.” That was the grim warning from Turitea School board member Fraser Ponsford, putting the case for lower speeds on Old West Rd around the school at drop-off and pick-up times. He appeared...
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Harvesting at full throttle
A possible improvement to eel life in Lake Horowhenua could be a sign weed harvesting work is making a difference in the polluted lake. Punahau Lake Horowhenua has great cultural significance to local iwi but is one of the most polluted lakes in the...
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Soldier in court martial trial
A junior soldier socialising at a military bar in Trentham has indecently assaulted a fellow comrade with a pool cue and headbutted another when they tried to intervene. Private David Arahanga had already put his hands on another female when the...
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Exposing a legacy of cruelty
Inhumane practices inflicted under the guise of medicine have left patients with lifelong injuries and memory loss, with some unable to recall having children or getting married. Their harrowing stories are being told in a travelling exhibition...
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Mountainbike park destroyed by storm
Mountainbikers in Foxton are in need of a new home due to storm damage having destroyed their park. Last week’s storm caused havoc across the region, including at Foxton, where strong winds blew down multiple trees at Target Reserve on the northern...
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Storm-blown albatross ready for ocean release
A northern royal albatross blown ashore in last week’s storm has made a guest star appearance at Wildbase Recovery in Palmerston North. Found at Pirinoa in Wairarapa, the adult female was brought to Wildbase Hospital at Massey University in a...
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Coach’s success after abuse brings extra hurt
A promising tennis player sexually abused by her former coach has told a court how her parents pushed his employers to act on the indecent assaults, but instead they promoted him to senior roles. John Philip Salisbury, 67, went on to complete an...
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Calls to tighten the leash
Pet owners are worried not enough is being done to tackle dangerous dogs in Palmerston North in the wake of three serious attacks elsewhere in the country. The fatal mauling of Northland woman Mihiata Te Rore on February 17, or the subsequent serious...
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UCOL looks to the future
A new chapter of independence is emerging at UCOL now that the polytechnic has transitioned away from the national body, Te Pūkenga, to become its own entity. The new semester at UCOL, which has campuses in Palmerston North, Whanganui, Levin and...
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Curtain call for theatre
What remains of the old Manawatū Teachers’ College auditorium, latterly the Wallace Development Company Theatre, is being crushed. The 1970s theatre is making way for the third stage of the company’s Centennial Park housing subdivision. Company...
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Retrieving liberty with lead in hand
At an age when most adolescents begin testing which tethers they can sever on their path to independence, a Manawatū teen is instead latching a leash and hoping to find freedom with the help of a fourlegged companion. “Sammy will be the one asking if...
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Another storm hinders work
The wild storm that lashed the region this week has added to the challenge of doing flood protection work and repairs on a limited budget. Horizons Regional Council is this week holding annual meetings for its river schemes, usually for people to...
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Golf clubs left in the rough
The future of two golf clubs is in doubt after sustaining major storm damage. Heavy rain and wind hit the region on Sunday night and Monday morning, and a state of emergency was declared on Sunday for the entire Horizons region, but that was...
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Big cleanup ahead
The raging Pohangina River has receded but flood waters have left behind a huge mess on large areas of farm land. The cleanup had begun for many people after the wider Manawatū was hammered by strong wind and heavy rain on Sunday and Monday, with a...
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Relief as storm fears fade
A night of gritted teeth gave way to sighs of relief yesterday as the wider Manawatū was spared major calamity. The storm that triggered a region-wide state of emergency and fears of devastating floods brought wild winds but not the heavy rain...
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Manu comp the bomb
The Papaioea Palmerston North Manu Comp, an official qualifier for the 2026 Manu World Champs, made quite a splash on Saturday for competitors and fans alike.
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Free swims retained for preschoolers
Preschoolers and their caregivers will continue to be able to swim for free at Palmerston North’s Lido and other pools, despite entry fees going up 10% for other users. City council staff had proposed introducing a $3 charge for people supervising up...
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Athletics club burglary below the bar
A Feilding athletics club has been left scrambling to source gear for a junior competition after its clubhouse was burgled. Children attending Moa Harriers’ first practice of the year on Wednesday evening were disappointed to learn high jump and shot...
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Hospital ED upgrade starts
Palmerston North Hospital’s emergency department is getting a $14.45 million upgrade. Health Minister Simeon Brown said construction of the expansion was starting now and would be finished by the end of June. It would increase the department’s...
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Flynn’s Celtic Strings coming to town
An Irish musician is bringing the sound of Celtic strings to Manawatū. Dublin composer and guitarist Dave Flynn is performing two concerts and running a free Celtic music workshop. There will be a show at Palmerston Norths Globe Theatre at 7.30pm...
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Stringent security
A psychologist who assessed the Christchurch terrorist last year believed his judgment was affected by prison conditions, but stopped short of saying he was not fit to enter a plea. Brenton Harrison Tarrant was convicted of killing 51 worshippers and...
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School backs ‘superheroes’
Whenever Kelly Stickle thought she could not run any further, the memory of her daughter Indie’s determination to overcome trauma and play like the other kids provided inspiration. Once a happy, thriving baby, at 14 months old Indie was suddenly...
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At a glance
The Canterbury Glen Eagles will be gunning for a fourth Superstock Teams Champs title in a row this weekend and spearheading their challenge is a driver from Palmerston North. It’s teams champs weekend again and Palmerston North will be packed today...
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Judge tells offender he’s ‘too old for this’
A labourer grieving the death of his father and brother thought a woman stole his mother’s car so broke into her home and trashed it while police watched on, too scared to intervene. Judge Jonathan Krebs told the Palmerston North District Court on...
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Patients finally move to new mental health ward
Patients and staff have finally moved into Palmerston North Hospital’s new $66.6 million mental health ward Ngā Wai Ngaro, and city MP Tangi Utikere said it was overdue. The unit was officially opened in September by Mental Health Minister Matt...
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Snapshot of city’s migrants
Smiles, stern faces and personal experiences – diverse photographs in a new exhibition tell the story of migrants living in Palmerston North. Photographer Gerry le Roux is running an exhibition at Square Edge Community Arts from tomorrow to March 1...
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School bus rules to remain
A century-old school transport policy has become a bugbear for people unhappy about changes to high school bus routes in Palmerston North, but don’t expect it to change any time soon. Changes to some bus services in Palmerston North have come into...
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Barrier keeps trucks out of bus lane after near-misses
Truck drivers using a bus stop in Bulls to bypass an intersection that connects to two busy state highways will have to stick to the road instead, now that the council has installed a boom gate. The Rangitīkei District Council said it was prompted to...
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Dahlia farmer is finding her roots
A Manawatū mother is immersing herself in the joy of growing a flower once cultivated by the Aztecs for food after turning her paddock into a sought-after display of dahlias. Emma True, of Halcombe, is entering her third season of flower growing and...
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Two schools for kids with special needs to be built
Queen Elizabeth College in Palmerston North will be the home of one of two new specialist schools to support children with high and complex needs, the first built in New Zealand in 50 years. The other school will be at Ngākōroa School in Drury, south...
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New school bus service on way
Palmerston North Boys’ High School is investigating starting its own bus service to cater for students whose routes have been cut. Meanwhile, a parent-led bus scheme for one rural area will be up and running next week. The school term is starting and...
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Brighter prospects for kids with cystic fibrosis
Two Palmerston North families are feeling “stoked” that their preschoolers with cystic fibrosis can look forward to lives almost as long and good as those without the disease. Lily Olliver, 4, and Ollie Carmont, 2, are likely candidates for the...
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Parents eye own solution
Some Manawatū parents are trying to launch their own bus service to ensure their children can get to high school from rural areas where routes into Palmerston North have been cancelled. The effects of a long-running saga about changes to the city’s...
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Commander says goodbye
A man tasked with overseeing some of the country’s most grisly cases is retiring from police after almost five decades serving the public. Ross Grantham joined the force in 1979 and was posted to his first beat in Wellington in January 1980 after 12...
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Optimism despite grim diagnosis
A Manawatū man has maintained an optimistic outlook despite a grim cancer diagnosis. Ashhurst’s Jeremy Smith, 39, is a lieutenant colonel in the army and since he was diagnosed with cancer in December 2024, has been through a harrowing year of...
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Music stops for record shop
The closure of Palmerston North’s only dedicated record store is not due to a lack of support from local music lovers, says its owner, who has decided running his business across two cities is not viable in the current retail climate. Vinyl Room in...
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Safer access petitioned for
A Horowhenua family who have farmed their land for four generations are asking the public to support efforts in getting safer access to their business, which sits on a dangerous state highway. Lewis Farms has fast become a destination for people all...
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Afghan family adjusts to life
After years in a foreign country as a refugee, adjusting to living in New Zealand was a shock to a family from Afghanistan who now call Palmerston North home. The Awhina Whakatau Trust works to provide accommodation for refugee families when they...
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Cuts leave students ‘stranded’
Families in a coastal Manawatū village say their children will be cut off from attending secondary school when the term starts as the bus service has been slashed. At the end of last year, the Ministry of Education completed a review of secondary...
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Enduring repairs sought for bridge cables
Cables on what remains of the historic Ōpiki bridge over the Manawatū River urgently need to be lifted out of the water. One set of cables has been dangling in the river since the end of December, when they most likely succumbed to high winds,...
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Newcomers spend up big
Spending money on election campaigns has paid off for some newcomers to the Horizons Regional Council. The currently incomplete election donations and expenses returns posted on the council’s website show that Peter Wells, the only newcomer for the...
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Uses sought for old nacelles
The imminent dismantling of the Te Rere Hau wind turbines above the Palmerston North skyline has posed a recycling conundrum the community is asked to help to solve. When Meridian takes the wind farm’s 97 twin-bladed turbines apart later this year to...
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Vice-chancellor hands over reins
In nine years at the helm of Massey University, vice-chancellor Jan Thomas faced multiple challenges – but when she sees a smiling student cross the stage to graduate, it’s a reminder of why it’s all worth it. She finishes at the end of this month and...
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Homes found for homeless
More than 100 people who might otherwise have been sleeping on Palmerston North’s streets have been helped into homes in the past year. The key has been the intervention of one of a team of three housing navigators who have provided wraparound support...
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End of the line for Marton railway station
Plans to demolish a neglected Rangitīkei railway station have been brought forward after the building was damaged by fire. The Marton railway station was damaged by a blaze early on Sunday morning, with crews from Marton, Bulls and Halcombe attending...
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Cafe embraces safe identity
Some will come armed with a list of questions, others will stand silently at the counter in tears. One customer even spent time working in the kitchen to build trust and combat her anxiety about ordering from a menu. Though society has become...
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Boutique is a blooming venture
Every night Caroline and Eddie Ficher, and their little dog Pierre the 4th, pack up their boutique gifts and homeware, and pop them inside their purpose-built shop. The following morning they do it all over again before opening their century-old home...
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Skating back to glory days
The Memorial Park skating rink in Palmerston North is progressively being restored to glory with the help of the Memorial Park Sports Trust Board. The voluntary group – led by skate rink enthusiast Sandy Nimmo – has provided an umbrella group for...
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King’s Service Medal for five decades of firefighting
For 55 years, Henry Joseph Wheeler has responded to calls donning whatever firefighting gear he has available. In the early years that was a pair of thin pants and a shirt – none of it fire retardant – even if he was turning up to a raging house...
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The return of independence
The return of local decision-making and identity is being welcomed as regional governance is restored at UCOL this week. The polytechnic, which has campuses in Palmerston North, Masterton, Levin and Whanganui, is one of 10 that will be reestablished...
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Rongotea couple dig deep
A Rongotea husband and wife are taking on an ambitious project turning a plot of bare land into a flourishing garden that will provide more than just food. Sarah-Jane and Martin Roundill came up with the idea to plant the rural town’s first community...
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The property KiwiRail wants but will not buy
The owner of a once-immaculate country home on the outskirts of Palmerston North wants some certainty about the future. Hangfeng Ji’s Clevely Line property lies in the path of KiwiRail’s proposed freight hub. It has been designated for the...
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The black-singlet subversion of J Clarke
From a broad, blokey farmer to straight-faced political satire, John Clarke blazed a trail lovingly chronicled in the film Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke. Manawatū Standard editor Matthew Dallas spoke with writer-director Lorin Clarke about...
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New owners to take over The Plaza
The Plaza in Palmerston North has new owners hinting at likely future development of the shopping precinct. The sale from Kiwi Property to NZ Retail Property Group was settled on December 12, and mayor Grant Smith said it was “a great Christmas...
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